Highway 280 reopens near Talladega Co. line

A log truck overturned on Highway 280 eastbound near the Talladega county line around 7:30 a.m. Source: Jerry Wilks

A witness to the wreck says the driver escaped through the passenger side door and seemed to be fine. Source: Jerry Wilks

SHELBY COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -

Highway 280 near the Shelby/Talladega county line has reopened to traffic after a log truck overturned this morning, Shelby County authorities announced.

The log truck overturned on U.S. 280 at Klein Road around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28. State troopers and Shelby County deputies responded to the scene.

Jerry Wilks, a witness to the wreck, tells Fox6 he saw the driver try to round a curve as he merged onto 280 from a side road. The truck ended up rolling over and dumping its load of logs all over the highway, spilling debris into both the eastbound and westbound lanes.

Wilks says he climbed up and helped the driver get out of the passenger side, and a few other men helped him get down to the ground. Wilks said the driver was shaken but "seemed to be fine" as he walked around the wreck scene.

Shelby County authorities shut down that section of 280 so crews could clear the scene. They announced at 11:22 a.m. that all lanes of Highway 280 have reopened.

The sheriff's office is still asking drivers to be cautious in the area since law enforcement officers and road crews were still at the scene clearing debris.